Effect of nitrogen and sulphur levels on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) under Poplar (Populus deltoides) based agroforestry system

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season 2017 at the Forest Nursery and Research Centre, College of Forestry, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad to study the “Effect of Nitrogen and Sulphur levels on growth and yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) Under Poplar (Populus deltoides) based Agroforestry system”. The soil of experimental plot was sandy loam in texture, nearly neutral in soil reaction (pH 6.7), low in organic carbon (0.35%), available N (230 kg ha-1), available P (20 kg ha-1) and available K (189 kg ha-1). Experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with three levels of Nitrogen [(100 kg ha-1), (120 kg ha-1) and (140kg ha-1)] and three levels of Sulphur [(20kg ha-1), (30kg ha-1) and (40kg ha-1)].There were 9 treatments each replicated thrice. The result showed that growth attributes viz., Plant height (153.43 cm) at 90 DAS, No. of leaves per plant (11.50) at 90 DAS and plant dry weight (128.56g) at 90 DAS where as yield attributes and yield viz., Number of cobs / plant (1.83), Number of grains/cob (419.55), Test weight (233.00g) and grain yield (54.16q/ha) was recorded highest with the application of 140 kg N ha -1 and 40 kg S ha -1.